Goshavank Monastery
Գոշավանք
A monastery founded in the 12th–13th centuries by the scholar Mkhitar Gosh, famed for the most exquisite “lace” khachkar in Armenia.
Goshavank Monastery is located in Gosh village, about 20 km east of Dilijan. It was built from the late 12th century into the 13th century by Mkhitar Gosh, a medieval jurist and fabulist, and it was an important center of learning and education at the time. The complex includes the Church of the Holy Mother of God, the Church of St. Gregory, a bell tower that doubled as a library, and a narthex. Its most famous piece is the “lace khachkar” (Aseghnagorts), carved in 1291 by the craftsman Poghos. Its openwork pattern is as delicate as fabric, and it is considered one of the peaks of Armenian khachkar art. The monastery is free to visit, and a small museum stands at the entrance. It is often combined with Haghartsin Monastery and Lake Parz as a Dilijan day trip, about 2 hours’ drive from Yerevan.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Lake Gosh
- Lake Parz
- Dilijan National Park
- Haghartsin Monastery
- Dilijan Local Lore Museum and Art Gallery
- Dilijan
- Matosavank
- Jukhtakvank